MONTAGUE – A team that faced lots of doubt last season turned a sub-.500 record into a district championship. The 2024 Wildcats finished 16-22 and, on the surface, did not look like a contending team in Division Three. That was until they upset North Muskegon in the district title game, 4-1. Montague jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning and would eventually add extra insurance runs in the fifth. Eli Peterson, who was a sophomore at the time, tossed a complete game that resulted in just one run given up on the way to hoisting up a district mitten.
In the regional semifinal, the Wildcats matched up against Clare (28-6). It was a tough 12-1 loss and ended a season that included knocking off one of the best teams in the state.
Almost all of the key players from last season will be returning to the Wildcats, which is a great sign for a team looking to notch a conference title.
Montague will be led by head coach Jeff Moss, who is in his third season with the team.
“We will have plenty of depth this season, making competition at every position, and that excites me because those types of dynamics lead to great success,” Moss said.
2024 Season
- 16-22 record
- 4th in the WMC-Lakes
- Division 3 District title
- Lost in MHSAA Regional Semifinal
Batting
Senior Bryton Belinger is one of the few Montague bats to look out for ahead of the season. Belinger plays the shortstop position well and can cause havoc at the plate. Belinger had a scorching bat last season with a .362 average and 18 doubles while spreading the ball all over the field. The now-senior hit two long balls last year, demonstrating elite pop from the shortstop position.
Next up is senior Ryver Jarka, who stands in from the left side of the dish, presents himself with solid speed, and is one of the conference’s best center fielders. Jarka slashed with a .385 average with 37 hits and drove in 20 runs throughout the season.
Senior Kellan Francis rounds out the team’s projected top three hitters. Francis is a hit machine and will serve as a run producer in the heart of Montague’s lineup. Francis was just short of a .400 on-base percentage and posted a .297 average last season.
Pitching
Montague has one of the best rotations in the conference, with a lot of the production returning from last year. The staff consists of five solid arms who will all have a shot to be some of the best pitchers in the area. “These guys helped carry the workload last year and are putting the work in now to make an impact in the upcoming season,” Moss said.
Peterson took the nod in lots of big-time games last season and will be returning to the staff as one of its best in the rotation. Peterson, through 54 innings pitched, finished with a 3-5 record and recorded 65 strikeouts. The kid is a strikeout machine, averaging over one per inning, and will give Montague a big boost every time he’s on the mound.
Belinger will likely eat lots of innings for the Wildcats this season, just like he did last season. In 56 and a third innings pitched last season, Belinger struck out 60 and posted a 3.85 ERA. Belinger poses a sort of three-quarter delivery and pumps heat from the right side.
Jarka will also pitch for the Moss-led Wildcats, as he will offer a left-handed option on the mound. Jarka tossed just over 35 innings and picked up 49 strikeouts. As a lefty and a good one, Jarka will be dominant in the WMC.
Senior Braylen VanSickle and junior Cole Herremans round out the rest of the meat in Montague’s staff. VanSickle struck out 21 in 15 innings, and Herremans recorded 36 punch-outs.
The Bottom Line
Montague was a very young team a season ago, and many of its key players lacked experience. Now, with a full season of varsity baseball under their belt, the Wildcats will make a strong run for the conference title and a deep run in the MHSAA tournament. Montague’s rotation must play up to its standards, and the bats will need to start hot in conference play.
2025 Tentative Schedule
3/21 – @ West Ottawa DH
4/1 – @ Forest Hills Eastern DH
4/2 – Vs. Ravenna DH
4/15 – @ Whitehall DH
4/16 – @ Muskegon Catholic Central
4/22 – H Fremont DH
4/24 – @ Grant DH
4/28 – Vs. Mason County Central DH
5/3 – GMAA
5/6 – @ Ludington DH
5/8 – @ North Muskegon DH
5/10 – @ Grant Tournament
5/13 – Vs. Oakridge DH
5/20 – Vs. Orchard View DH
5/22 – Vs. Shelby DH
5/24 – @ Fruitport Tournament
5/27 – Vs. Spring Lake DH
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